Chapter 28: Making History! Chen Sicheng Takes a Heavy Blow!
Wang Zhongjun’s brows furrowed deeply into a “川” shape.
However, as a renowned mogul in the film industry, he remained composed despite the unfolding situation.
“First, transfer 500,000 to our program account,” he instructed.
“500,000?”
“The program’s bidding cap is 500,000, isn’t it? Get it ready. Later, we’ll see how good this kid’s script actually is. If it’s really promising, we’ll throw more money at it!”
“Got it!”
Wang Zhonglei took out his phone.
“By the way, what if all these companies bid the maximum 500,000? According to the rules, whoever grabs the spot first has the priority for negotiations,” Wang Zhonglei asked.
“Why are you so sure they’ll all bid 500,000?”
“That’s true.” Wang Zhonglei chuckled awkwardly and nodded. “Never mind, I’ll prepare for it first. If this kid has really written a great script, we can leverage our connections later and have a proper talk with him. There’s no rule against cutting in halfway.
I believe, with the Huayi Brothers’ na behind us, if this kid has any sense, he’ll know that working with us is his best choice.”
Wang Zhongjun waved his hand.
“Get to work.”
Wang Zhonglei began the preparations.
______
anwhile, as the five bidding slots were claid by five major film companies, the news spread like wildfire.
In an instant, it swept through the entire program team like a tidal wave!
_____
Backstage at the Program Headquarters, Chief Director Hong Tao was reviewing other contestants’ live streams with the judging panel when soone suddenly called out, “Director! There’s been a bid in Room 48’s live stream!”
“What? A bid! Who?”
“It’s Huan Yu Films!” a staff mber said excitedly.
“Hiss!”
Hong Tao drew in a sharp breath.
“This kid’s incredible! Except for the very first competition, the last two editions never had a bid during the Top 32 knockout round! And now, during the competition I’m hosting, soone bid! Amazing!”
He was about to rush over when soone else shouted, “Director! Ai Qi Yi has also bid!”
“Again!”
Hong Tao paused in his tracks.
“Director, Jiaxing has also bid!”
“Director, Youku just entered as well!”
“All for Room 48?”
“Yes!!!”
Hong Tao stood frozen in place, utterly stunned.
Unbelievable.
Four first-tier film companies in the industry had almost simultaneously bid on the sa script! This had never happened in any previous Top 32 knockout rounds!
Even in the legendary first competition, no work had ever received this kind of attention!
“Director!!! Another bid just ca in! The fifth slot has been taken!”
“Who?”
“It’s… it’s Noon Sun Productions!!”
Hong Tao: “!!!!!!!!”
_____
At the sa ti, in various contestants’ live streams, a “bidding tsunami” swept through like a storm!
[Guys, hurry! Go check out Lu Chen’s live stream! It’s blowing up again!].
[What happened? What’s going on?!].
[I just stepped away for a mont. How is there another big event?].
[A bidding frenzy! Five major film companies are all bidding on Lu Chen’s script!].
[What!!!!!!].
In an instant, the chatrooms across all streams exploded into chaos!
Viewers Flood into Lu Chen’s Livestream
Fans from various contestants’ livestreams lost their minds!
Millions of viewers abandoned their original livestreams and flocked to Lu Chen’s channel en masse. So contestants’ livestreams even saw their viewer counts drop to single digits!
anwhile, Lu Chen’s livestream viewer count skyrocketed. It climbed from 600,000 to 1 million, then 1.5 million, and finally surpassed 2 million concurrent viewers for the first ti!
When viewers saw the five gleaming tokens at the top of the screen, they were covered in goosebumps.
[If I rember correctly, no other Top 32 knockout round has ever had five companies bidding simultaneously!].
[Right, I recall that even in the first season, when Teacher Hai Yan won the championship, only three companies bid at the sa ti!].
[Teacher Shu Ping only got one!].
[This is history in the making! No, we’re witnessing history!].
[Five companies bidding?! Didn’t the major film companies lose a ton of money last season? How are they going so crazy this ti?!].
[It’s only Lu Chen’s story getting this treatnt. Look at the other contestants—not five, not even one company has bid!].
[Film companies have such sharp eyes! They’ve all spotted the potential in this script!].
[I didn’t feel much about the other companies, but the fact that Noon Sun joined—I’m absolutely stunned!!].
[ too!].
The barrage of comnts overwheld the chat, creating a snowball effect.
The massive influx of viewers caused severe lag in Lu Chen’s livestream, prompting the production team to imdiately allocate more bandwidth to stabilize the stream.
_____
At the sa ti, the judging panel was touring different livestreams and providing critiques on contestants’ works. After seeing Lu Chen’s creative process and script concept, it was hard not to feel underwheld by the other contestants.
Most of the others’ works were filled with mundane family dramas or romantic tropes that failed to captivate interest. Nevertheless, the judges remained professional, offering serious feedback and sharing their perspectives.
anwhile, host Xiao Sa was absentmindedly reading through the audience comnts. What he saw left him completely stunned! He jumped up from his seat.
“What’s wrong, Teacher Xiao Sa?”
The judges were startled by his sudden movent.
Xiao Sa’s expression shifted dramatically. “Teachers, Lu Chen’s livestream has companies bidding on it! And not just one—five companies are bidding simultaneously!”
The announcent shocked the panel.
“Five companies!”
Aside from Liu Heping, the other three judges imdiately stood up.
Even though Liu Heping stayed seated, his pupils contracted visibly.
“Check the comnts in the livestream—they’re saying it’s Huan Yu, Ai Qi Yi, Jiaxing, Youku, and Noon Sun!”
“Noon Sun joined too!”
Shu Ping and Yan Gelin were utterly flabbergasted.
Everyone knew that Noon Sun Productions had an impeccable reputation and prestige within the industry. Though they produced few works, every one of their dramas was a certified masterpiece or blockbuster hit—such as Ode to Joy, The Disguiser, Family on a Journey, and All Is Well.
Even Liu Heping’s renowned anti-war classic The Advisors Alliance, though not produced by Noon Sun, was directed by Kong Sheng and Li Xue.
Any script chosen by Noon Sun had the inherent potential to beco a blockbuster.
“This is unbelievable! Back in my season’s Top 32 knockout, even Brother Hai Yan’s work only had three companies bidding. Who would’ve thought Lu Chen’s story could attract five top-tier companies?”
“Teacher Xiao Sa, let’s go to Room 48 right now!” Yan Gelin suggested.
Xiao Sa nodded eagerly and switched over to Lu Chen’s livestream.
______
When the judges entered Lu Chen’s stream and saw the row of company logos at the top, they couldn’t help swallowing nervously.
“There really are five companies!”
Chen Sicheng’s heart sank.
“Are these people crazy? That kid hasn’t written a single word of the main story yet! Why are so many companies bidding?”
The sudden blow left Chen Sicheng completely dazed.
“And why is he just lying there?”
Shu Ping couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
On screen, Lu Chen was still lounging on his reclining chair with his legs crossed, eyes closed, looking utterly relaxed and unbothered.
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